The impact of self-reported preconception body mass index on gestational abnormal glucose tolerance in a Chinese center

Abstract

Aims: To investigate the association between self-reported preconception body mass index (BMI) and the risk of abnormal glucose tolerance (AGT).

Methods: Data were obtained from a prospective cohort study conducted in China. We recruited 5305 qualified women who registered during 22-24 gestational weeks. Blood glucose was measured by trained professionals, and other health-related information was recorded prospectively. We used logistic regression to evaluate the relationship between preconception BMI with AGT and its subtypes, after controlling for potential confounders.

Results: 649 of the 5305 participants (12.2%) were diagnosed with AGT. The prevalences of AGT in underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese population indicated a significant linear increased trend (8.4%, 11.1%, 20.0% and 27.7%, respectively) (p < 0.001), regardless of parity status. After adjustment for maternal age, education and parity, the adjusted odds ratios of AGT for underweight: OR = 0.82 (95% CI: 0.62, 1.06); overweight: OR = 1.92 (95% CI: 1.54, 2.38); obese: OR = 2.82 (95% CI: 1.88, 4.22) compared with normal weight. Stratified analysis showed preconception BMI had a greater impact on primiparous women.

Conclusions: Our results support an association between self-reported preconception BMI with increased risk of AGT, and it was dependent on parity.

Keywords: Abnormal glucose tolerance; Chinese women; Cohort study; Parity; Preconception body mass index.